Stafford Rangers v Lutterworth Town

REPORT

Stafford Rangers’ season got off to an unwanted start after they crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of United Counties Premier South outfit Lutterworth Town.

Rangers came into the game on the back of a mixed pre-season which culminated in a 1-7 defeat to Loughborough University on Tuesday evening, whereas Lutterworth already had two league games behind them, and it showed in the latter stages of the game as Simon Alcott scored a dramatic last minute winner to send The Swifts into the next round and a home tie with Chasetown.

The home side changed most of the side that played in the Loughborough friendly, with Kaiman Anderson and Zidan Sutherland being preferred in attack, whilst Michael McGrath played in the holding role in front of a defence. Zac Noble donned the number one jersey, with Callum Smith still out injured.

The opening stages of the game saw Stafford on top, and in the 5th minute Scott Wara headed a James McQuilkin free kick straight at Josh Wormleighton in the visiting goal. Sutherland was next to go close when a long throw from James O’Neill was flicked on by Wara and Sutherland swivelled onto his right before crashing a shot against the bar from ten yards out.

Stafford continued to cause havoc with set-pieces, with Alcott almost turning into his own net from a McQuilkin corner before McGrath glanced a header over the bar from the following corner kick.

Chances would come again for the home side with both Sutherland and Anderson having chances blocked by resolute defending from the visitors. New signing Alex Worley also had a couple of efforts with a fizzing half volley just going wide of the visiting goal.

As the half drew to a close, there was still time for Wara to have another chance, getting on the end of a deep McQuilkin free kick to beat his man at the back post, but sending his header wide of the target.

The second half seemed to follow the pattern of the first with Wara again testing Wormleighton with a header three minutes into the half.

However, the visitors grew into the game and sensed that an opportunity may be there for the taking. A flurry of corners from Dom Brennan on the hour brought Noble’s first real test in the game when he had to stand his ground amidst a big group of bodies to tip the ball over the bar.

Liam Read was next to have an opportunity, but he couldn’t find his feet to get his shot away with O’Neill providing the block, before Alcott had a chance when he headed over following a free kick in the 68th minute.

Both sides traded chances as the home crowd started to grow anxious, and in the 77th minute O’Neill slipped on the ball in his own half to present substitute Jake Brown a free run on goal, however he sent his shot straight at Noble who parried away from danger.

Play switched to the other end and the home side came close when O’Neill sent a cross to the far post and Joe Cuff headed across goal, only for the ball to evade everyone and roll away to safety.

But, with the game edging towards full time and a replay seeming likely, visiting goalkeeper Wormleighton launched a kick downfield to start a counterattack which resulted in Andy Burns putting the ball out for a corner kick.

Stafford had already been warned about Lutterworth’s presence in the six yard box, but as Brennan’s inswinging right footer came into the box, the warnings weren’t heeded and Alcott hooked the ball over a number of Stafford defenders and beyond Noble to send the away players and dugout delirious with what proved to be an 88th minute winner.

There was still time for more drama as home debutant Worley received his marching orders in stoppage time, having got into a fracas with the away dugout. He then saw red when apparently kicking out at a Lutterworth player as he was trying to retrieve the ball, much to the dismay of Neil Kitching and his team who were yards away.

Stafford tried to get back into the game in the dying moments, however the Lutterworth backline held firm and were rewarded moments later when the referee called an end to proceedings and an end to Stafford Rangers short-lived FA Cup journey in the 2025/26 season.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Zac Noble, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Alex Worley, 4 Michael McGrath (15 Mason Rees 69m), 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 John Atherton, 8 Ashley Fallon (16 Joe Morley 89m), 9 Zidan Sutherland, (12 Joe Cuff 69m) 10 James McQuilkin, Kaiman Anderson. Unused Subs 14 Ben O’Hanlon, 17 Max Barlow, 18 Graham Deakin

Lutterworth Town: 1 Josh Wormleighton, 2 Jarred Acton, 3 Courtney Lashley (15 Dylan Parish 90m), 4 Simon Alcott, 5 Oli Bradshaw, 6 Nathan Astill, 7 Jordan Burrows, 8 Dominic Bolton, 9 Liam Read (16 Lucca Watson-Quilter 81m), 10 Dom Brennan, 11 Will Grocock (14 Jake Brown 54m). Unused Subs 12 Elijah Kazimirow, 13 Luke Jeffrey, 17 Jude Coates, 18 William Warren

Referee: Kian Soulsby

Cautions: McQuilkin, Rees (Stafford) Brennan, Bolton, Acton (Lutterworth)

Sent Off: Worley (Stafford)

Att: 517

Report by Craig Cartwright